Austin Takes Free Legal Courses

The U.S. immigration application process was a hot legal course at the People’s Law School in Austin Saturday. Questions arose from how to obtain permanent residence, fees and consequences of losing the ability to apply for residence.

Rafael Portillo attended one of the consumer law classes that cover debts, foreclosure and repossession.

“Four or five years ago we weren’t in this situation that the economy is now. We weren’t concerned about it," said Portillo. “But nowadays it’s something that you have to be concerned about it, but it’s now something you have to stay on top because otherwise, if you’re not careful, it will eat you up."“

“There’s a lot of bureaucracy to go through in order to just get the opportunity to fill a position and so of he’s poorer clients, they do end up considering at least the undocumented route," he said through a translator.

Jacequline Watson (http://www.hines-leigh.com/jacqueline_watson.html), the immigration attorney who taught the class warned Vasquez and the class that the consequences for violating immigration laws can cost someone at least 10 years before they can apply again for U.S. residency. She said often children who were brought to the U.S. by their parents can be found ineligible to apply for permanent residency.

“There’s family, there’s employment," said Watson. “If you have entered the country illegally or if you’ve remained in the country illegally, you will not be eligible for either of those."

Watson, who grew up on the Texas border, said there are always exceptions but it’s very difficult to argue them. More recently, she said some immigrants are becoming eligible for residency through asylum because of the escalating violence in Mexico but even that requires considerable proof.